Helicopter AH-1G 67-15686

Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15686
Date: 04/13/1969
Unit: 101 ABN
This was Combat Incident Damage caused by Other Combat by Mortar with the mission function of Armed Escort
Search and rescue operations were Not Required
Source(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center AVDAC database.
Helicopter was recovered
This record was last updated on 04/15/2004


Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15686
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00000325
Date: 05/18/1969
Incident number: 69051818.KIA
Unit: D/1/1 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was REPAIRED
This was a Recon mission for Armed Escort , Other Aircraft.
This was Combat Incident Damage caused by Other Combat by Ground Fire .50 cal to 20 mm in size with the mission function of Visual Reconnaissance
Unknown this helicopter was Unknown at UNK feet and UNK knots.
South Vietnam
Helicopter took 1 hits from:
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
The helicopter was hit in the Cockpit
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL
Casualties = 01 WIA, 01 KIA . . Number killed in accident = 0 . . Injured = 0 . . Passengers = 0
Search and rescue operations were Not Required
The helicopter Continued Flight.
The aircraft was diverted prior to accomplishing any mission objectives.
costing 0
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: LNOF, 90248, CASRP, Mike (John M.) Henry (Lindenmuth Old Format Data Base. Casualty Report. )
Summary: Took several 51 cal hits during VR west of Tam Ky that killed Huber. Did a running landing at Tam Ky.
Helicopter was recovered

Crew Members:
P CPT HUBER LEO JOHN III KIA
AC CPT HENRY JOHN MICHAEL WIA

War Story:
It was early in the morning, about 0830 or 0900. We were flying with a Pink team reconning for a 23rd Inf Div ground unit about 8Ks west of Tam Ky. There was lots of enemy activity in the area - 51 cal pits and lots of heavily traveled trails but we couldn't find any people. The infantry were moving west to east down a ridge line when the LOH went down low to start working. It wasn't long before he received fire. I rolled in but nothing came out of the gunship. I reported this to my wing and climbed for some altitude. We recycled the electrical controls for the weapons systems and on my second pass we were firing. As we got near the bottom of the run, we started taking 51 cal hits. Even the infantry called "SWORD 75 - your taking hits!" I said "Roger That" in sort of a cocky manner - I'd been in country about 10 months then and had taken lots of fire. Well, suddenly the front canopy exploded with a big bang and I recall another big bang behind my seat. Another hit took out the FM radio and the top of the cyclic. This was how I got the wounds to my left leg and right hand. My pinky finger was hit and that would hurt for a long time. I yelled at Leo to take control of the helicopter because I didn't have a cyclic but when I looked toward the front, I could see he was most likely dead already. His body was smashed into what remained of the front cockpit and there was blood all over. The ship started a right roll. I reached down and found just a few inches of the cyclic sticking out of the floor. I started an auto-rotation but noticed the 51 fire crossing over and around the helicopter, so I ruled out landing in the middle of the bad guys. The engine was still running, so I flew it back to Tam Ky and did a running landing on the runway because I didn't know how badly it was damaged. There was a C-123 in position to take-off but he had to wait. My wounds were treated and I was evaced to the States. I believe that a CH-47 came to pick-up my Cobra but dropped it. Submitted to the VHPA July, 2000 by Mike Henry

This record was last updated on 04/15/2004


The following is crew member information for this incident:


Name: CPT Leo John Huber III
Status: Killed In Action from an incident on 05/18/1969 while performing the duty of Pilot.
Age at death: 24.8
Date of Birth: 07/13/1944
Home City: New Orleans, LA
Service: AR branch of the reserve component of the U.S. Army.
Unit: D/1/1 CAV
Major organization: Americal Division
Flight class: 68-6
Service: AR branch of the U.S. Army.
The Wall location: 24W-043
Short Summary: Killed when the front cockpit of the Cobra was hit with several 51 cal rounds. CPT Henry was back seater.
Aircraft: AH-1G tail number 67-15686
Service number: O5248033
Country: South Vietnam
MOS: 1981 = 19 Rotary Wing Aviator (Unit Commander)
Primary cause: Hostile Fire
Major attributing cause: aircraft connected not at sea
Compliment cause: small arms fire
Vehicle involved: fixed wing aircraft
Position in vehicle: pilot
Started Tour: 04/03/1969
"Official" listing: helicopter air casualty - pilot
Length of service: 02
Location: Quang Tin Province I Corps.
Reason: aircraft lost or crashed
Casualty type: Hostile - killed
married male U.S. citizen
Race: Caucasian
Relgion: Methodist (Evangelical United Brethren)
The following information is secondary, but may help in explaining this incident.
Category of casualty as defined by the Army: battle dead Category of personnel: active duty Army Military class: officer
This record was last updated on 04/26/2002


Information on U.S. Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15686
The Army purchased this helicopter 0768
Total flight hours at this point: 00000840
Date: 02/15/1970
Unit: D/1/1 CAV
This was a Combat incident. This helicopter was LOSS TO INVENTORY
This was a Recon mission for Armed Recon
This was a Combat Loss caused by being shot down by Ground Fire less than .50 cal in size with the mission function of Armed Visual Reconnaissance
While in Target Area this helicopter was Attacking at 0300 feet and 040 knots.
South Vietnam
UTM grid coordinates: BS475780
Small Arms/Automatic Weapons; Gun launched non-explosive ballistic projectiles less than 20 mm in size. (7.62MM)
Systems damaged were: PERSONNEL, TAIL ROTOR, FLT CONTROLS
Casualties = 02 INJ . .
Search and rescue operations were Not Required
The helicopter Crashed. Aircraft Destroyed.
Both mission and flight capability were terminated.
Original source(s) and document(s) from which the incident was created or updated: Defense Intelligence Agency Helicopter Loss database. Survivability/Vulnerability Information Analysis Center Helicopter database. Also: OPERA, JSIDR, FM385, CASRP, CRAFX (Operations Report. Joint Services Incident Damage Report. Crash Facts Message. Casualty Report. )
Loss to Inventory and Helicopter was recovered
This record was last updated on 04/15/2004


The following is Goldbook information on US Army helicopter AH-1G tail number 67-15686
It is provided here as an ESTIMATE of the history of this helicopter and is not intended to be the final authority.
This helicopter was purchased by the US Army in 0768.
Please provide any additional information on this helicopter to the VHPA.

DATE  FLT HRS    UIC      UNIT          AREA          POST          COUNTRY
196807   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN TRANSIT SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196808   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN MAINT   SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196809   0    0 W0MHAA DIR SUP / TRAN   IN MAINT   SHARPE AD        AVCOM   
196810  27   27 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196811   9   36 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196812  36   72 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196901  71  143 WAB0T0 2SQ 17AC 101ACD  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196902  42  185 WACYAA D TRP 1SQ 1 CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196903  50  235 WACYAA D TRP 1SQ 1 CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196904  62  297 WACYAA D TRP 1SQ 1 CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196905  28  325 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196906  70  395 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196907  99  494 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196908  81  575 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196909  71  646 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196910  29  675 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196911  23  698 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
196912  18  716 WACYAA D TRP 1ACD 1CAV  VIETNAM                     RVN     
197001  71  787 WACYD0 D 111 CV AMD     VIETNAM                     RVN     
197002  53  840 WE4HAA 142 TC DS        VIETNAM                     RVN     


Please send additions or corrections to:

Gary Roush


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Printed from databases on: 05/31/2005

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